Shoe-fastening.



JOHN WESLEY WHITE, 03 FARMVILLE, VIRGINIA.

SHOE-FASTENING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

Application filed April 4, i912. Serial No. 688,401.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J onn WESLEY VVHITE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of F armville, in the county of Prince Edward and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Fastenings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to shoe fastenings and has as its object to provide an eificient substitute for the ordinary button or lace fastening devices.

Not only is the ordinary buttoned shoe difficult to fasten but when purchased must fit the ankle so tightly as to be uncomfortable, in order that it may appear neat, and after it has been worn for a time and the leather of the upper has stretched, becomes unsightly as well as too loose for comfort. On the other hand a laced shoe will invariably pucker at the hooks and eyelets and furthermore the hooks catch in the hem of the trousers and tear the latter loose.

Neither type is comfortable to wear as there is no give to the bending of the ankle. The present invention therefore aims to provide a fastening device for shoes which will not possess any of the disadvantages of the lace or button fastening and which will allow the upper of the shoe to give to the move ments of the foot although at all times held sufliciently tight to render the shoe, to which it is applied, neat in appearance.

further aim of the invention is to provide a shoe fastening device which may be readily and quickly secured or loosened and which will hold all portions of the upper evenly stretched and smooth.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fastening of this type in which the member which draws and holds the front of the shoe closed is in the nature of a spring, and means is provided whereby the tension of the springs of the several fastenings of the shoe may be adjusted to cause the upper of the shoe to more or less closely fit different portions of the ankle and instep.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and finally pointed out in the appended claim, it being further understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views:

Figure 1, is a perspective view of a shoe provided with the fastening devices embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2, is a horizontal sectional view through one of the fastening devices and Fig. 3, is a perspective view of the portion of the clasp of the fastener.

that portion of the shoe upper to which it is I? applied.

Fig. 4c, is a similar view of another porf tion thereof. v

Fig. 5, is a similar view showing that element of the clasp which is carried by the i spring of the fastener.

Fig. 6, is a view in elevation of the spring.

In the drawings, the reference .letter S, indicates a shoe and U, the upper thereof which is open at the front as is the ordinary laced shoe. To the upper adjacent one edge of the open front thereof are secured a number of two-pronged staples 1, which are spaced apart substantially the same as are the eyelets and hooks of a shoe of the type mentioned. Each of the devices embodying the present invention includes a spring 2, having a terminal eye 3, secured through one of the staples 1. At its other end, the spring 2, of each fastener is formed with a terminal end 4, which is permanently secured through an eye 5, formed at one end of an apertured clasp plate 6, which is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, of the drawings. This plate 6, is preferably of a width substantially equal to the diameter. of the coils of the spring to which it is attached so that the fastener will present a neat appearance. For a purpose to be presently explained, the plate 6 is formed with a number of vertically extending slots or apertures 7 and by referring to Fig. 2, of the drawings it will spaced prongs 8, which are connected by a 1;

portion 9. The upper and lower edges of the portion 9, are formed with forwardly projecting securing cars 10, having apertures 11. In applying this portion of the clasp to the shoe upper, the prongs 8, are inserted and bent as shown in Fig. 2, of the drawings so that the connecting portion 9, will be held firmly. against the face of the upper. This member of the clasp further includes a finger 12, which is bent to substantially cyma curved form and is provided upon its upper and lower edges, near one end, with pivot lugs 13', which are fitted in the openings 11. By referring to Figs. 2 and 4, of the drawings it will be observed that the outer edges of the ears 10, are cut in at an acute angle with its base as at 15, and the reason for thus formingv the cars will be presently set forth.

As shown in Figs. 1 .and 2, of the drawings, when the fastener is to be. secured, the plate 6, is engaged over the earslO, with the wall of one or the other of the slots 7, engaging against the angularly cut edges of the said ears, and against the tension'of the spring 2. The finger 12 is then turned upon its pivot to assume the position shown in Fig. 2, of the drawings. At this point .it will be noted that the terminal portion "of the finger 12 adjacent which the pivot lugs 13, are formed, constitutes a cam which rides over the forward face of the plate 6, and holds the finger in the position stated and with the free end thereof resting against the forward face of the said plate. In this manner the plates 6, are firmly locked in engagement with the ears 10, until the fingers 12, of the clasps are swung outwardly.

Means is provided for limiting the expansion of the spring 2, of each of the fasteners, and this means consists of two substantially U-shaped wire members 17, which extend through the spring 2, and are interlocked as shown in Fig. 2. The terminals of each of these members are bent to form eyes 18, engaging the terminal whorls of the said spring. It will be readily under stood that when the spring 2, of any of the fastening devices has been stretched to a certain degree the bights of the members 17, will engage and prevent further expansion.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be readily understood that there is provided a fastening device of the class described which may be readily and quickly manipulated to fasten or unfasten the shoe and that the upper of the shoe may be more or less tightly drawn about the foot, as desired, by engaging the fingers 12, in one or the other of the slots 7. A shoe provided with the fastening means herein described is neat in appearance and is certainly more comfortable than a shoe secured by means of buttons or laces.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A fastening of the character described including in combination, a staple secured near one edge of a shoe upper, a coil spring having a terminal eye in engagement with said staple the other end of said spring being formed into a loop, an apertured clasp plate having a sleeve holding said loop, a sheet metal holder having prongs whereby said holder may be secured to the shoe upper opposite said staple, said holder having spaced ears, the outer edges of said ears being cut to form an acute angle said holder being adapted to fit into the apertures of said plate, and a finger bent to substantially cyma. curve form held between said ears whereby said apertured plate may be brought into engagement with the angled edges of said ears, as, and in the manner set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN \VESLEY WHITE.

Witnesses:

A. B. CHRISTIAN, W. M. DUVALL. 

